Warner Bros. Bans 'Dukes of Hazzard' Car With Confederate Flag - Rolling Stone Warner Bros. Bans 'Dukes of Hazzard' Car With Confederate Flag Warner Bros. Bans 'Dukes of Hazzard' Car With Confederate Flag Decision to halt production on symbol-bearing General Lee comes after online retailers ban Confederate flag merchandise A 1969 Dodge Charger, dubbed "The General Lee" from the TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard", is displayed during the 37th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Cars auction in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 16th, 2008. Credit: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty All Stories Following South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley's call to remove the Confederate flag from the state capitol, some of the nation's biggest retailers have similarly promised to stop selling items bearing that symbol. Now, one of pop culture's most visible uses of the Confederate flag – the General Lee, an orange Dodge Charger from the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard – is about to get a makeover. According to Vulture , the lone company that was licensed to reproduce the Confederate flag-branded General Lee as a toy will no longer make that item.

More News Charleston's History of Hellish Violence Dylann Roof fits into a long tradition of violent racism in South Carolina Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) is responsible for licensing the rights to Duke of Hazzard merchandise. "Warner Bros. Consumer Products has one licensee producing die-cast replicas and vehicle model kits featuring the General Lee with the confederate flag on its roof — as it was seen in the TV series" a WBCP spokesman said. "We have elected to cease the licensing of these product categories." However, the General Lee – with its Confederate flag plastered atop its cabin – will continue to have a presence on television, as The Dukes of Hazzard is still popular in syndication, especially on cable network CMT. Warner Bros.' decision to stop the license on Confederate flag-bearing General Lee replicas comes just days after Walmart, Sears, eBay, Google Shopping and Etsy all announced they would stop selling items that featured the Confederate flag; soon after, Amazon stepped up their efforts to remove all items bearing that symbol on their online marketplace. However, the sudden purge of items branded with the Confederate Flag has also resulted in a sales surge as collectors stock up before that merchandise ultimately becomes unavailable, the New York Times reports .

"We have decided to prohibit Confederate flags and many items containing this image because we believe it has become a contemporary symbol of divisiveness and racism," eBay said in a statement. In the case of Amazon, that company eventually agreed to remove Confederate merchandise after they were barraged social media by users promoting the hashtag #TakeItDown. Don’t Miss a Story Sign up for our newsletter to receive breaking news directly in your inbox. We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy How we use your email address Trending Ranked on a scale from 1 to 10, the trending score reflects the number of users reading a story in real time. What is this?

‘Dukes of Hazzard’ car fetches nearly $10 mil - TODAY.com Today.com ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ car fetches nearly $10 mil 2007-05-05T00:44:20.000Z comment () A version of the General Lee — a 1969 Dodge Charger made famous in the television show “The Dukes of Hazzard” — fetched a winning bid of nearly $10 million Friday in an online auction. If the bidder comes through with cash or financing for the $9,900,500 price, the car will be the most expensive item ever sold by eBay Inc., company spokeswoman Catherine England said. Actor John Schneider, who played the blond heartthrob Bo Duke in the show, sold the car, which was not featured in the original show but carries the signatures of the cast. Schneider, 47, said Friday that he expected bidding for the orange coupe, which has “01” on the doors and is emblazoned with the Confederate flag, to go for $3 million at most.

“In my wildest dreams, two people would get into a bidding war at about $2.5 million ... and I would have been delighted with that. However, I’m three times as delighted as that now,” he laughed. All the living original cast members and crew from the show, which started in 1979, signed their autographs under the hood of the car. It was also featured in the movie “Dukes Go To Hollywood,” and Schneider raced it in The Silver State Classic Challenge in Nevada. The actor said he would use the money to help produce a sequel to his 2006 movie “Collier & Co.” “I think I’ll go on vacation first and then make the movie,” said Schneider, who after “Dukes” acted on Broadway and had roles on shows including “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” “This is really, really quite amazing.” Slideshow Neil P. Mockford / GC Images Celebrity Sightings Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. on the "Let's Be Cops," red carpet, Selena Gomez is immortalized in wax and more.

Celebrity Sightings of Idris Elba - Actor Idris Elba seen on the set of :A Hundred Streets" on Aug. 8 in London. Getty Images / Getty Images of Elisabeth Moss, Mark Duplass - Actors Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass arrive at the premiere of RADIUS-TWC's "The One I Love" at the Vista Theatre on Aug. 7 in Los Angeles. Getty Images / Getty Images of Nick Kroll - Actor Nick Kroll arrives at the premiere of RADIUS-TWC's "The One I Love" at the Vista Theatre on Aug. 7 in Los Angeles. Getty Images / Getty Images of Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson - Actors Damon Wayans Jr. and Jake Johnson arrive at the premiere of "Let's Be Cops" at the Cinerama Dome on Aug. 7 in Los Angeles. Getty Images / Getty Images of James D'Arcy - James D'Arcy arrives at the premiere of "Let's Be Cops" at the Cinerama Dome on Aug. 7 in Los Angeles. Reuters / Reuters of Julianne Hough - Actress Julianne Hough arrives at the premiere of "Let's Be Cops" at the Cinerama Dome on Aug.

7 in Los Angeles. Getty Images / Getty Images of Hannah Simone - Actress Hannah Simone arrives at the premiere of "Let's Be Cops" at the Cinerama Dome on Aug. 7 in Los Angeles. Getty Images / Getty Images of Nina Dobrev - Actress Nina Dobrev arrives at the premiere of "Let's Be Cops" at the Cinerama Dome on Aug. 7 in Los Angeles. Getty Images / Getty Images of Nicole Murphy, Brandy Norwood - TV personality Nicole Murphy and singer Brandy Norwood attend The Pump Group VIP Cocktail Reception at W Hollywood on Aug. 7 in Hollywood. Getty Images / Getty Images of Tara Reid - Actress Tara Reid attends The Pump Group VIP Cocktail Reception at W Hollywood on Aug. 7 in Hollywood. Getty Images / Getty Images of James Wirt, Julia Stiles - Actors James Wirt and Julia Stiles stand on stage during the opening night curtain call for "Phoenix" at the Cherry Lane Theatre on Aug. 7 in New York. Getty Images / Getty Images of AnnaSophia Robb - Actress AnnaSophia Robb attends the opening night performance of "Phoenix" at the Cherry Lane Theatre on Aug. 7 in New York.

Getty Images / Getty Images of Selena Gomez - A boy gives the wax figure of Selena Gomez a kiss at the unveiling of the new new, never-before-seen Selena Gomez wax figure at Madame Tussauds New York on Aug. 7 in New York. Getty Images / Getty Images of Chris Martin - Chris Martin of Coldplay performs during the Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show at Z100 Studio on Aug. 7 in New York. Getty Images / Getty Images of Michael Fassbender - Actor Michael Fassbender attends "Meet the Actor" at Apple Store Soho on Aug. 7 in New York. Getty Images / Getty Images Singer Lily Allen performs in concert at Bridgestone Arena on Aug. 7 in Nashville. AP / AP of 'Expendables 3' - The stars of "Expendables 3," from left, Kellan Lutz, Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas and Wesley Snipes attend "Expendables 3" at Cinema UGC Normandie on Aug. 7 in Paris.

Getty Images / Getty Images of Robert Pattinson - Actor Robert Pattinson speaks during the Meet The Filmmakers event for "The Rover" at Apple Store, Regent Street on Aug. 7 in London. Getty Images / Getty Images of Nicole Kidman, Jason Bateman - Actors Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman are spotted filming Bateman's "The Family Fang" in Westchester, New York, on Aug. 7. Getty Images / Getty Images ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Star Rips TV Land for Dropping Show: 'Can’t We All Just Watch TV?’ ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Star Rips TV Land for Dropping Show: 'Can’t We All Just Watch TV?’ Yahoo TV• Share by Paul Bond Editor’s note: Schneider posted a video to YouTube late Wednesday elaborating on the “error” of taking Dukes off the air. John Schneider is blasting TV Land for its decision to erase from its schedule — due its depiction of the Confederate flag — reruns of The Dukes of Hazzard, the wholesome show that made the actor a teen idol in the 1980s.

“The Dukes of Hazzard was and is no more a show seated in racism than Breaking Bad was a show seated in reality,” Schneider told The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday. TV Land confirmed Wednesday that it pulled the show in the aftermath of the June 17 shooting in Charleston, S.C., perpetrated by Dylann Roof, who was a fan of the Confederacy, known in the 19th century for its defense of slavery. Schneider says his residuals from the show “have never been much to write home about,” but he would like the show to persist because of the old-fashioned values it promotes, such as honesty, courage, chivalry, rebelliousness and the like. Those who seek to malign the show because the famous car it featured had a Confederate flag painted on the roof are missing the point, he says. “I am saddened that one angry and misguided individual can cause one of the most beloved television shows in the history of the medium to suddenly be seen in this light,” Schneider said Wednesday. “Are people who grew up watching the show now suddenly racists? Will they have to go through a detox and a 12-step program to kick their Dukes habit? 'Hi… My name is John.

I’m a Dukesoholic.’” Earlier Wednesday, Schneider tweeted a photo of Roof burning a U.S. flag while wearing a Gold’s Gym shirt. “I am grossly offended by flag burning. But … is the Gold’s Gym logo to be considered a symbol of racism as well now?” he wrote. “I’m kidding, of course, but has it really come to this?” he said in an interview with THR. “Come on, TV Land, can’t we all just watch TV?” A week ago, Warner Bros. said it would no longer license models of the Dukes of Hazzard car, known as the General Lee, unless the licensees stripped the Confederate flag from the car’s roof, and Schneider similarly weighed in on that decision. “Throwing this particular baby out with the bathwater seems reactionary and overly PC to me,” Schneider told THR last week. “If the flag was a symbol of racism, then Bo and Luke and Daisy and Uncle Jesse were a pack of wild racists, and that could not be further from the truth.” Schneider starred in Dukes of Hazzard from 1979 to 1985.

He recently founded John Schneider Studios in Louisiana where he is shooting Like Son, a feature film he wrote and executive produced and in which he plays a small role. Reblog Frequently Asked Questions - HazzardNet HazzardNet 1. What year is…. General Lee — 1969 Dodge Charger R/T. Daisy’s Jeep — 1980 CJ7. After Daisy’s RoadRunner was sent off a cliff by Bo and Luke in “The Runaway” Daisy received a bridesmaid gift from CJ Holmes of a beautiful new Jeep. For a couple of episodes it was seen with the doors on and “Dixie” on the doors. Eventually the doors would be taken off permanently and the “Dixie” name moved to the hood. Daisy’s yellow car – In the GA episodes and the first few filmed in CA, Daisy’s yellow car is a 1974 Plymouth RoadRunner.

Eventually it was switched to a 1971 Roadrunner and would be the car that goes off the cliff in the second season episode “The Runaway” (yet mysteriously appear again in a couple more episodes following that one!) Some fans even go so far as to dispute whether the car was a RoadRunner, a GTX or a Satellite. More often than not, GTX was a performance package option with RoadRunners and Satellites. Boss’s Caddy – A 1970 Cadillac Deville convertible, Boss’s car is the only car besides General Lee to remain unchanged during all 7 seasons of the Dukes. Jesse’s pick up – Jesse’s truck in the GA episodes is hardly seen let alone used in any driving scenes. Our best guess is it’s a 1970 F100 flare side. Once the show moved to California, Jesse’s truck became a 1975 Ford F100. Occasional F150s were also used. Cooter’s tow truck — He had a ton of different models! The brown pick up seen in the GA episodes and for a few done in CA, is a 1969 C-10 Chevy.

The first blue and white tow truck seen toward the end of the first season was a 1969 Ford F100. By the third season, Cooter would have yet another make and model tow truck, this time a yellow 1979 Ford F-350 Custom. Eventually he would go back to the blue and white truck , only it’s a 1970 GMC 1500. Cooter also had a green 1968 Chevy pickup that was seen in a few episodes. Rosco, Enos and Cletus’s patrol cars – The first couple of seasons of the Dukes featured a mix of makes and models of police cars, including a 1970 Dodge Polara, 1975 Dodge Monaco, 1974 Plymouth Satellite, 1974 AMC Matadors, 1977 Dodge Monacos and others. The cars that were used from the third season on were pretty much strictly 1977-1978 Plymouth Fury’s. 2. What does the “P” in Rosco P. Coltrane stand for? Pervis 3. What does “Pervis” stand for?

“Pervis” is a male name of French orgin, meaning “one who provides food.” This makes an alarming amount of sense when you consider all the times Rosco had to bring food for Boss Hogg. 4. What was Rosco’s dog’s name? What breed is it? Flash and she’s a Basset Hound. (The first few episodes with Flash refer to the dog as a male.) The first episode Flash appeared in was “Enos Strate to the Top” in the third season. The idea to add a dog to the show reportedly belongs to James Best. 5. I’m a long lost relative of one of the stars of the show. Can you get in contact with them for me? Sorry, no we can’t. We’re just fans of the show who have dedicated time and effort to build a website in honor of a favorite tv program. 6. I’d like to get in touch with people who were part of the Dukes production crew, do you know where I can contact them? Sorry, no we don’t. Same as above, we’re just fans of the show.

None of us are in any way officially tied in with the cast, Warner Brothers, CBS, Gy Waldron, the Estate of Paul Picard, Lou Step Productions, Waylon Jennings, RCA Victor, the Alabama State Militia or the Sons of Confederate Veterans. HazzardNet is an independent, fan-operated website. 7. I have some Dukes merchandise I’d like to sell. Can I do that on your site? We have a Collectibles and Memorabilia category in our Forums. You can post information about what you’d like to see, but please keep in mind that HNet takes no responsibility for content of the ads and is a neutral third party regarding the transaction. Any disputes between buyer and seller must be resolved between buyer and seller. (Proceed at your own risk!) If you have a Dukes of Hazzard item for sale on ebay, and you want to post a link to it in the Collectibles and Memorabilia section, that’s fine too. 8. I have some Dukes merchandise. Can you tell me what the value of it is? Our best advice is to browse ebay and see if there are collectibles for sale similar to your items. Value depends on how rare your item is, and the condition it’s in.

The closer the item is to “new” condition, the better the value. Also, beware of knock-off merchandise on ebay that has been fan-created and is not a licensed product. If you are serious about Dukes of Hazzard collectibles and their value, try the Collectors Guide to TV Toys and Memorabilia: 1960S & 1970s . The book is out of print but copies are still available on Amazon. 9. Where can I order the Dukes of Hazzard on VHS or DVD? You can find all 7 seasons of the Dukes of Hazzard on DVD in our merchandise section , along with the two made for TV reunion movies, the big-screen 2005 movie, and the straight to DVD Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning. Also check out “The Dukes” animated series, available by Warner Bros. DVD on demand. 10. Where can I watch Dukes of Hazzard on the internet, for free? As of this writing, The Dukes of Hazzard is not on Hulu or any other free streaming content provider. You can browse YouTube to find select scenes and cast interviews.

Amazon.com has “instant video” streaming of Dukes of Hazzard episodes , and you can also download an entire season . The episodes are $1.99 each and a complete season runs $14.49. Prices are subject to change. 11. What channel is currently airing the Dukes of Hazzard? CMT is airing the Dukes of Hazzard on weeknights, usually Monday through Wednesday or Thursday. Airtimes vary widely and episodes are aired in random order. We periodically update our homepage with news regarding broadcast information. Also check your local cable listings. 12. Why did Bo and Luke temporarily leave the show? Contract dispute. The short version is that John and Tom felt they were being cheated out of royalties from the sale of merchandise. They also complained about the quality of the scripts. While the strike didn’t completely doom the show as some predicted it would, ratings declined. Still, the Dukes of Hazzard remained a top 20 show for the duration, progressing another two seasons after the return of Wopat and Schneider. 13. Why did Rosco temporarily leave the show? Contract dispute.

James Best wanted a better dressing trailer to go dry off in, after being thrown in muck piles in various episodes. WB scoffed, Jimmie walked. After a few episodes where Rosco’s absence was sorely felt, Jimmie got his trailer and Rosco returned. 14. Why did Cooter temporarily leave the show? Contract dispute. This one’s kinda ridiculous on the studio’s part. They wanted Cooter to be clean shaven. Ben Jones, who played Cooter, wanted to keep his beard. Who cares if Cooter’s got whiskers or not??? The studio won, and after a few episodes without him, “Crazy Cooter” returned to the show…clean shaven. 15. How many seasons were there of the Dukes of Hazzard? There were a total of seven seasons of the Dukes! One was a mid-season replacement (meaning it started in January and went until May). Seasons 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were full September – May seasons. Season 7 ran September until February. 16. When did Coy and Vance show up? Season Five , which was during the strike by Tom Wopat and John Schneider.

Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer were immediately unpopular as substitutes. To their credit, they never had an opportunity to develop their characters – they were instructed to watch film of Wopat and Schneider and “act like them.” Coy and Vance were hollow clones of Bo and Luke, by design. 17. What about “The Dukes” animated series? “The Dukes” animated cartoon began broadcasting on Saturday mornings during the Wopat and Schneider strike. The cartoon scripts seemed more accommodating to Coy and Vance; the characters had more depth in the cartoon than they did in the regular show. Byron Cherry and Christopher Meyer put forth good vocal performances for the animated series and did their best to help it succeed. Top Wopat and John Schneider returned to The Dukes of Hazzard while The Dukes cartoon was in production. Bo and Luke replaced Coy and Vance in the last seven episodes of the cartoon. Despite the eventual inclusion of Bo and Luke, “The Dukes” animated series lasted only one season. A DVD was made available by Warner Bros. on demand in late 2010 and can be ordered here . 18. What state was Hazzard supposed to be located in? Georgia.

In some episodes the Georgia state flag – as it appeared in the day – is visible on the courthouse. 19. Is there a real Hazzard County? No, but there is a real town called Hazard, in Kentucky. Several cast members made an appearance in a parade there in 1981, drawing thousands of fans. There is no relation between Hazard KY and the production of the Dukes of Hazzard. In fact, the spelling of “Hazzard” in the show, used the double “z” to avoid any connotation with “Hazard” KY. 20. Where was the Dukes filmed? The first five episodes were filmed in and around Covington and Conyers, Georgia, and also parts of Atlanta. After that, production moved to the back lot of Warner Bros studios in California and some facilities in Burbank. Also, most of the country/back roads scenes were filmed at Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch at Placerita Canyon in Santa Clarita, CA. One of HazzardNet’s members, Hoss C., created a very detailed look at the sets and filming locations. This is great information for anyone wanting to know more about the production of The Dukes of Hazzard.

His work appears in our Forums and will be preserved as a fan resource. 21. When and Where is DukesFest? How did this thing start? Why does it keep moving? For 2011, the Dukes of Hazzard gathering of fans and cast members is called “Hazzard Homecoming” and is being held in Sperryville, Virginia on August 13&14. This is essentially “DukesFest” in all but name. Attending cast members include John Schneider, Cathy Bach, James Best, Sonny, Shroyer, Rick Hurst, and promoter Ben Jones. The event includes dozens of General Lees on display, concerts featuring bluegrass music, pro wrestling matches, and the usual shindig miscellany. DukesFest may have unofficially began in 1999, when a fan organization hosted a loose gathering of General Lees and a couple hundred fans in Covington, GA. Cast appearances by Sonny Shroyer, Don Pedro Coley (Sheriff Little) and Ben Jones were featured. Jerry Rushing, whose real-life moonshine adventures inspired Gy Waldron to create the Dukes of Hazzard, was also in attendance.

It is likely that Ben Jones saw the potential for fan and cast gatherings by attending this event. In 2001, Ben hosted DukesFest in Sperryville, VA, in an open field behind his new Dukes of Hazzard store, “Cooter’s Place.” What began as a relatively modest collection of General Lees, fans, and attending cast members, quickly grew into an attraction of epic proportion. Within a few short years, DukesFest attendance outgrew what the location would feasibly support. Dukesfest moved to Bristol TN in 2005. The Bristol Motor Speedway drew large attendance for DukesFest, with fans waiting up to 8 hours in line for a chance to ride in a General Lee around the racetrack. Shooter Jennings, son of the great Dukes of Hazzard balladeer and country music legend Waylon Jennings, appeared in concert. By 2006 Ben had opened a new Cooter’s Place store and museum in Nashville, and DukesFest followed. Nashville hosted the event in 2006 and 2007.

Nashville proved to be an enormously successful location for the event, with 100,000 fans streaming through the gates over the course of a weekend at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. An automotive stunt show included a General Lee jump of over 200 feet in front of a packed grandstand. After the 2007 DukesFest, Ben transferred the rights to the name “DukesFest” to John Schneider. Ben was facing spine surgery and was unable to commit to future DukesFests at this time, but desired to see the event continue. In 2008, John Schneider moved DukesFest to Atlanta. The recession of the times, and high gas prices, muted the turnout and damped spending by the fans. Atlanta was a new venue for DukesFest, though smaller fan gatherings had taken place for years in the nearby area of Covington. Schneider chose Atlanta for the size of the speedway. He hoped to use a packed grandstand of Dukes fans as extras for movie filming, intending to capture a racing scene for his movie sequel to “ Collier & Co .” Attendance and revenue were reportedly disappointing.

This was the last use of the DukesFest name. Having recovered from surgery and receiving pleas from fans for another DukesFest, Ben Jones organized the Smokey Mountain FanFest in 2009. This was held at a minor-league baseball stadium and was a very scaled-down event. Merle Haggard was to headline the Saturday night concert, but had to cancel at the last minute due to illness. A portion of the admission prices were refunded. There was no large-scale fan event in 2010, perhaps due to the weak economy. 2011 brings us to Hazzard Homecoming, located once again in Sperryville VA. 22. I have more questions that aren’t in the FAQ. Now what? Visit the rest of our website! There are many sections accessible through the navigation on our Home Page , and there’s wisdom galore from other fans in our Forums . Also check out our Image Gallery ! We will update our Home Page with the latest Dukes of Hazzard news and events, and once in awhile we get around to our monthly Newsletter . HazzardNet is continually growing, so stick around!

2009-02-02 'Dukes of Hazzard' Star Rips TV Land for Dropping Show: "Can't We All Just Watch TV?" | Hollywood Reporter 'Dukes of Hazzard' Star Rips TV Land for Dropping Show: "Can't We All Just Watch TV?" 2:17 PM PDT 7/1/2015 by Paul Bond COMMENTS Courtesy of Photofest John Schneider (right), Tom Wopat and Catherine Bach pose with General Lee, the car from 'The Dukes of Hazzard' TV show. "Are people who grew up watching the show now suddenly racists?" John Schneider asks. John Schneider is blasting TV Land for its decision to erase from its schedule — due to its depiction of the Confederate flag — reruns of The Dukes of Hazzard, the wholesome show that made the actor a teen idol in the 1980s. “The Dukes of Hazzard was and is no more a show seated in racism than Breaking Bad was a show seated in reality,” Schneider told The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday.

TV Land confirmed Wednesday that it pulled the show in the aftermath of the June 17 shooting in Charleston, S.C., perpetrated by Dylann Roof, who was a fan of the Confederacy, known in the 19th century for its defense of slavery. Schneider says his residuals from the show “have never been much to write home about,” but he would like the show to persist because of the old-fashioned values it promotes, such as honesty, courage, chivalry, rebelliousness and the like. Those who seek to malign the show because the famous car it featured had a Confederate flag painted on the roof are missing the point, he says. “I am saddened that one angry and misguided individual can cause one of the most beloved television shows in the history of the medium to suddenly be seen in this light,” Schneider said Wednesday. “Are people who grew up watching the show now suddenly racists? Will they have to go through a detox and a 12-step program to kick their Dukes habit? ‘Hi... My name is John. I'm a Dukesoholic.’” Earlier Wednesday, Schneider tweeted a photo of Roof burning a U.S. flag while wearing a Gold’s Gym shirt.

“I am grossly offended by flag burning. But … is the Gold’s Gym logo to be considered a symbol of racism as well now?” he wrote. “I’m kidding, of course, but has it really come to this?” he said in an interview with THR. “Come on, TV Land, can’t we all just watch TV?” A week ago, Warner Bros. said it would no longer license models of the Dukes of Hazzard car, known as the General Lee, unless the licensees stripped the Confederate flag from the car’s roof, and Schneider similarly weighed in on that decision. “Throwing this particular baby out with the bathwater seems reactionary and overly PC to me,” Schneider told THR last week. “If the flag was a symbol of racism, then Bo and Luke and Daisy and Uncle Jesse were a pack of wild racists, and that could not be further from the truth.” Schneider starred in Dukes of Hazzard from 1979 to 1985. He recently founded John Schneider Studios in Louisiana where he is shooting Like Son, a feature film he wrote and executive produced and in which he plays a small role. See the trailer here .

Email: Paul.Bond@THR.com Rebukes of Hazzard : snopes.com Rebukes of Hazzard Rebukes of Hazzard While the TV Land cable channel has pulled 'The Dukes of Hazzard' from their lineup, the show itself has not been "banned from television." - - NEWS: While the TV Land cable channel has pulled The Dukes of Hazzard from their lineup, the show itself has not been "banned from television." Amid the ongoing national debate in America over the display of the Confederate flag, the TV Land cable/satellite channel confirmed they would no longer be airing reruns of the 1980s television series The Dukes of Hazzard — a show about the the adventures of cousins Bo Duke and Luke Duke, who live on a family farm in fictional Hazzard County, Georgia, and drive around in a customized Dodge Charger called the "General Lee" that bears an image of a Confederate flag on its roof. Separately, retailers including Amazon.com and Walmart announced individual decisions to discontinue the sale of the Confederate flags and related merchandise (incorrectly described some rumors to be the result of a government mandate ).

Many consumers were left believing that the Confederate flag had now been "banned" in the retail and entertainment worlds, rather than being the focus of individual retailer and broadcaster decisions to discontinue its sale or display. On 1 July 2015, obtained ABC News confirmation from TV Land that the The Dukes of Hazzard had been "removed" from the channel's schedule, adding that the network did not issue a statement about the decision: A week after Warner Bros. announced it would no longer sanction the manufacturing of "Dukes of Hazzard" merchandise featuring the flag, TV Land announced it's pulling reruns of the 1980s’ TV series featuring John Schneider and Tom Wopat as Bo and Luke Duke in fictional Hazzard County, Georgia. In a statement to ABC News, the network confirmed that the show had been "removed" from its schedule, while declining to comment further.

On 23 June 2015, Ben Jones (who depicted mechanic Cooter Davenport on the show) published a statement to Facebook to protest recent policies targeting the Confederate flag: I THINK ALL OF HAZZARD NATION UNDERSTANDS THAT THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG IS THE SYMBOL THAT REPRESENTS THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE WHICH KEEPS US “MAKIN’ OUR WAY THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW HOW.” THAT FLAG ON TOP OF THE GENERAL LEE MADE A STATEMENT THAT THE VALUES OF THE RURAL SOUTH WERE THE VALUES OF COURAGE AND FAMILY AND GOOD TIMES. OUR BELOVED SYMBOL IS NOW BEING ATTACKED IN A WAVE OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN OUR NATION OF FREE SPEECH AND FREE EXPRESSION. ACTIVISTS AND POLITICIANS ARE VILLIFYING SOUTHERN CULTURE AND OUR HERITAGE AS BEING BIGOTED AND RACIST. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. AND WE KNOW THAT IN HAZZARD COUNTY THERE WAS NEVER ANY RACISM.

Dukes of Hazzard creator Gy Waldron said in a 2001 documentary that the use of the Confederate flag in the show was "done very innocently": “Painting the Confederate flag on the roof of the car was done very innocently, because in the ’50s and ’60s it was very common to find Confederate flags painted on cars. There was never a political statement to be made by it. It was just part of the tradition. And once we had put it in there I saw no reason to bow to any pressure groups. We’re not making any statement regarding slavery or post-slavery or integration or anything like that.” John Schneider, who played Bo Duke in the show, said in that same documentary that "It amazes me that anyone could take offense to the General Lee. If there was ever a non-racist family, it was the Dukes of Hazzard." Schneider told the Hollywood Reporter in July 2015 that: "The Dukes of Hazzard was and is no more a show seated in racism than Breaking Bad was a show seated in reality," Schneider [said].

Schneider says his residuals from the show “have never been much to write home about,” but he would like the show to persist because of the old-fashioned values it promotes, such as honesty, courage, chivalry, rebelliousness and the like. Those who seek to malign the show because the famous car it featured had a Confederate flag painted on the roof are missing the point, he says. “I am saddened that one angry and misguided individual can cause one of the most beloved television shows in the history of the medium to suddenly be seen in this light,” Schneider said. “Are people who grew up watching the show now suddenly racists? Will they have to go through a detox and a 12-step program to kick their Dukes habit? ‘Hi... My name is John. I'm a Dukesoholic.’” As of 1 July 2015, The Dukes of Hazzard remained on the schedule of the CMT cable/satellite channel.

Tags: The Dukes Of Hazzard Back On TV The Dukes Of Hazzard Back On TV By Kevin Richards January 13, 2014 9:34 AM Courtesy of Warner Brothers Entertainment If you’re a Country Music fan, there’s a good chance you grew up watching The Dukes Of Hazzard. If you’ve been looking for the TV classic, it’s back in re-runs on CMT in HD. Bo and Luke Duke, Boss Hogg, Uncle Jesse, Daisy, Sherriff Rosco P. Coltrane and Cooter are back and ready for come crazy car chases and down home country humor on CMT. The Dukes Of Hazzard featured a few prime Country Music talents during it’s original run from 1979-1985. Mel Tillis, Loretta Lynn, and Mickey Gilley all made special guest appearances. Meanwhile, Waylon Jennings served as both the narrator and singer of the show’s theme song, ‘Just Good Ole Boys.’ In addition, John Schneider, Bo Duke, landed a deal with MCA records to give us a string of country hits and Tom Wopat released a few country songs on the Mercury label.

There was even a Dukes Of Hazzard album released with Johnny Cash and the cast singing songs about life in the country, Flash, and The General Lee. Although the show’s been off the air for quite a few years, in the mid-2000’s fans were treated to two movies based on the show. In 2005, The Dukes Of Hazzard movie starred Sean William Scott, Johnny Knoxville, Jessica Simpson and Willie Nelson. Then, in 2007 The Dukes Of Hazzard : The Beginning gave General Lee fans even more excitement and reminded people that the crazy stories of Hazzard County would always be around. Although the ‘newer’ movies weren’t huge hits with original Dukes fans, we remind you that if you want more country fun, two reunion movies were made with the original living actors in 1997 and 2000. Bo Duke tweets photo of Dylann Roof in protest after TV Land dumps ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ - The Washington Post Bo Duke tweets photo of Dylann Roof in protest after TV Land dumps ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ The inside track on Washington politics.

Be the first to know about new stories from PowerPost. Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published. You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published. You’re all set! By Justin Wm. Moyer By Justin Wm. Moyer July 2, 2015 Follow @justinwmmoyer Jon Schneider, a.k.a. Bo Duke, responds to TV Land’s decision to stop airing “The Dukes of Hazzard.” In a 2001 documentary about the making of “The Dukes of Hazzard,” show creator Gy Waldron said the Confederate flag that appears on a car featured on the show — like the Good Ol’ Boys themselves — was never meanin’ no harm. “Painting the Confederate flag on the roof of the car was done very innocently,” Waldron said , “because in the ’50s and ’60s it was very common to find Confederate flags painted on cars. There was never a political statement to be made by it. It was just part of the tradition. And once we had put it in there I saw no reason to bow to any pressure groups.

We’re not making any statement regarding slavery or post-slavery or integration or anything like that.” John Schneider — that’s Bo Duke to those who follow the Good Ol’ Boys — agreed that the General Lee, as the car is known, was far from a symbol of hate. “It amazes me that anyone could take offense to the General Lee,” Schneider said in the documentary. “… If there was ever a non-racist family, it was the Dukes of Hazzard.” Yet the General Lee’s signature roof seems to have just caved in. Entertainment Weekly has confirmed that the cable network TV Land pulled “The Dukes of Hazzard” from its schedule. 1 of 64 The Confederate flag on display, from 1938 to today View Photos Public moments featuring the Confederate flag. Caption Public moments featuring the Confederate flag. July 7, 2015 Jalaludin Abdul-Hamid, center, talks to a Confederate flag supporter outside the South Carolina statehouse in Columbia. Sean Rayford/Getty Images Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. The network did not give a reason for the scheduling change.

But amid widespread calls for the Confederate flag to come down — and Warner Bros.’ recent decision to stop licensing “Dukes” merchandise — it was hard not to see a link. Bo Duke sure did. “The Dukes of Hazzard was and is no more a show seated in racism than Breaking Bad was a show seated in reality,” Schneider told the Hollywood Reporter . He said the show’s residual royalties “have never been much to write home about,” and then he said more. “I am saddened that one angry and misguided individual can cause one of the most beloved television shows in the history of the medium to suddenly be seen in this light,” Schneider said. “Are people who grew up watching the show now suddenly racists? Will they have to go through a detox and a 12-step program to kick their Dukes habit? ‘Hi … My name is John. I’m a Dukesoholic.’” Schneider also tweeted a link to a photo of alleged Charleston shooter Dylann Roof wearing a Gold’s Gym T-shirt. “Is the Golds Gym logo to be considered a symbol of racism as well now?” he asked. I am grossly offended by flag burning.

But… is the Golds Gym logo to be considered a symbol of racism as well now? — John Schneider (@John_Schneider) July 1, 2015 This wasn’t the end. In a video posted Wednesday to YouTube called “Can’t we all watch TV?” in which he said he wouldn’t say any more, Schneider said more. “I can’t respond to the flag issue anymore than I already have,” he said. “… There really is no time.” South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) announced she supports removing the Confederate flag from the state capitol grounds. Here's what you need to know about the history of the flag in the state and what needs to happen to have it removed. (Jorge Ribas/The Washington Post) Then: “The thing that you need to understand is that people have lost their lives. This is not about a television show. It’s not about a flag. It’s not about white or black or yellow or blue or green or gold. It’s about the fact that people have lost their lives and that is what we should be thinking about.” Though this was a “no comment” video, Schneider was just warming up.

“Do I think taking ‘Dukes’ off TV Land is silly?” he said. “Yeah, of course I do. ‘Silly’ maybe is not the right word. Do I think it’s an error? Yes. I think it’s an error because ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ was one of the most beloved shows ever — ever, ever, ever — and now it’s being cast in a terrible light that it does not deserve.” There was more. “And I’m not talking about the flag,” Schneider said. “I’m talking about ‘The Dukes of Hazzard.’ I know ‘The Dukes of Hazzard.’ I love ‘The Dukes of Hazzard.’ I know a lot of people out there do as well.” In closing, Schneider asked viewers spend time “praying for the families and loving one another, not doing all this other stuff.” Actor Johnny Knoxville — not an original Duke boy — with the General Lee at the film premiere of “The Dukes of Hazzard” in 2005. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters) Schneider is not the only “Dukes” cast member to defend the show in recent days.

In a Facebook post , Ben Jones — a former Democratic congressman from Georgia who played mechanic Cooter on the show and runs three “Hazzard”-themed museums — rallied round the flag. “I THINK ALL OF HAZZARD NATION UNDERSTANDS THAT THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG IS THE SYMBOL THAT REPRESENTS THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE WHICH KEEPS US ‘MAKIN’ OUR WAY THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW HOW,'” wrote Jones — in all caps. “THAT FLAG ON TOP OF THE GENERAL LEE MADE A STATEMENT THAT THE VALUES OF THE RURAL SOUTH WERE THE VALUES OF COURAGE AND FAMILY AND GOOD TIMES.” He added: “WE ARE NOT RACISTS. WE DESPISE RACISM AND BIGOTRY. AND WE THINK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATING THIS ‘CULTURAL CLEANSING’ ARE THE REAL BIGOTS IN THIS STORY.” Against such arguments stood no less an organization than the NAACP. “We consider the Confederate flag to be a symbol of hatred,” Los Angeles NAACP President Geraldine Washington said in the 2001 “Dukes” documentary.

“It’s a symbol of division and disharmony rather than being a symbol that brings people together.” Correction: A previous version of this post referred to Ben Jones as a “a former Republican congressman from Georgia.” He was a Democrat. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) held a news conference asking for the removal of the Confederate flag from the state house grounds, something that's got Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Larry Wilmore, and more late-night comedians talking. (Jhaan Elker/The Washington Post) national ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ Pulled From TV Land Schedule After Confederate Flag Controversy | Television : Just Jared This is going too far. The Dukes weren’t racists, nothing racist about the show. sydney jane I think the lefties (yeah, it’s Dems) are taking this too far. I love that show and I’m a black chick. This is not the same as a Confederate flag hanging over a state house. People choose to watch Dukes. What about that old show Hogans Heroes? Does this mean they will never show reruns of that show anymore either since there are Nazi symbols all over? No more old war movies? Seriously, TV Land? Sad what this country has become.

gradybridges Very dumb. There are 2 places the Confederate flag should be seen-A museum and on the General Lee. Penny Dreadful Ben Jones said it best. There’s nothing more to add. This is utter and complete madness. It’s more control and domination from the Left. And it won’t stop with flags. Penny Dreadful It’s absolutely Democrats. Lulu Next thing will be censorship in the books we’re allowed to have in our homes. eternalozzie you are delusional if you think any political “lefties” care whats on TV Land … this is just old culture coming to it’s natural end as America evolves a little bit. public opinion is just shifting away from that era of entertainment. TV Land execs just decided they don’t want that symbol of hate (the flag) on their network so they took it off. other than the symbol there wasn’t anything wrong about the show … outside how terrible television was in the 80s. Glauchow Not a symbol of hate. It started as currency.

Dana that is going too far, it is just a TV show soggybiscuit wrong message , how about ban shows with gun violence, that is the real problem Samm Lacroix omg If I hear one more person say “it’s a flag that shows independence” I’m going to snap. THE FLAG IS USED IN REPLACEMENT OF THE NAZI FLAG ALL OVER EUROPE SINCE THE NAZI FLAG HAS BEEN BANNED! Whatever you see it as, the world sees it as racist. You have every right to fly it in your house–easier to spot people I want to avoid–but on federal and state land, it’s wrong. Period Canceling the show does seem kinda dumb at this point. It’s decades old 55vineyard Political correctness is SO 2000, get over it. xyz STFU, band wagon idiot xyz Ban “Gone with the wind”, ban Lynyrd Skynyrd, ban fucking everything for the sake of some idiots, cool! It shows once again how easily Americunts are exploited and manipulated. Shame on u!

xyz IDIOCRACY xyz Ban “Gone with the wind”, ban Lynyrd Skynryd, ban everything, its what those elite morons want and they rejoice when the plebs bow down to their cretin demands. It shows once again how easily exploitable and manipulable, not to say really stupid, Americans are. If truth hurts, its perfect. Ban the flag of France, it reminds u of the guillotine, ban some Muslim countries flags, after all many terrorists come from those countries, just ban everything! Welcome to NWO! Jon M’Shulla It’s a flag that shows independence. Jon M’Shulla It makes me want to go out and buy one of those…and I live in upstate NY.

Question: What was the name of the car that featured in the TV programme `The Dukes of Hazzard'?
Answer: The General Lee